Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Hauntings and Spooky Things


Can't believe I'm actually writing about hauntings and it's nowhere NEAR Halloween but we're going through a little thing here at house and I figured I'd get it off my mind. During the last school year, my daughter (who is a college student) told me that she believed her apartment was haunted. Her little dog acted weird at odd times...staring at her closet door. Seemed harmless enough but when she told me she'd gotten into the habit of stacking things up in front of her closet door only to find the door open the next morning and all the pillows moved away, I started to worry a little bit.

Now we've never had anything weird happen here at our house until recently. No spooky feelings of being 'watched' etc. but I'd begun to notice small things when my daughter came to visit. We have an alarm system and little boxes are on the ceilings in various rooms (motion detectors) that feature a red light when the alarm is engaged. I'd noticed that when she is home, that the box with the light in her bedroom blinks like crazy. Didn't get TOO alarmed except those little lights don't blink anywhere else in the house. She is now home for summer break and things are getting too crazy for comfort around here.

For the past couple of months my husbands computer turns on (all by itself) every Thursday at 2 pm. Very odd. I talked to my computer guys and they just kinda gave me a funny  'look' about all that. Computers don't turn on by themselves, do they? Someone actually has to push the 'on' button. Right? Around the first of June, my husband was attending a conference out of town so it was just my daughter and I hanging out at home. We had a habit of having 'movie night' in our family room so one evening we are huddled in there chilling out. We weren't watching anything especially scary or suspenseful, nothing that would cause our imaginations to overreact. My daughter heads across the house where we have a master bedroom, my husband's office and an extra bathroom in the hall. She suddenly calls out...Mom, Dad's computer is on.

Hey, it wasn't Thursday afternoon but Thursday night so that was new. I got up to head that way when she came around the corner with her eyes BIG. Mom, she said, the bathroom light turned on all by itself as I walked past. Okaaaaay. I say, did you turn it off. She said, yes, she did but she was freaked out and could I go turn off the computer. A chill raced over me because my daughter isn't prone to dramatics. I believed her. Totally.

I headed across the house and notice a light on in the master bedroom. Weird. She'd said a light was on in the hall bathroom but she'd turned it off. So I got about halfway across the living room and hollered at her. Hey! Did you say the hall bathroom or the master bedroom? She  replied it was the hall bathroom. Hmmmm. I turned off that light and felt a very creepy vibe. I'm not prone to hysterics either. A very sensible woman mostly. So I go back into the family room and my daughter and I discuss the weirdness with the lights. I said, aw, it's probably some strange glitch with the electricity. I think at this point I was lying through my teeth because the air felt 'off'. I didn't want my daughter scared though so I tried to be chill about everything. Finally, I get up and head into the kitchen and what do I see? The HALL light is on now. We hadn't left the family room, hadn't touched a thing. The office light is on too and my husband's computer is ON. Again!

I told my daughter I'd 'had enough of this shit' and go into my husband's office to deal with the computer. The lights were all on as I sat in the chair and looked around. Finally I said. "You are NOT welcome here. You are scaring us and you have to LEAVE." Can't describe the sensation that poured over me. My skin tingled, hair stood on end and my heart-rate accelerated. I KNEW something was there. Later when my husband called to check in and see how we were, I told him what was going on. He got really quiet and I knew, since he's not a dramatic guy, nor one who believes in ghosts and such, that he was mullling this over. In the end, my daughter and I, armed with a baseball bat and tennis racket headed through the house and into each closet, flipping on lights and checking things. Nothing. The house was empty except for two scared women, a cat and a dog. That was some time ago and nothing quite that dramatic has happened except with bizarre 'pops' in the air and the sensation that we are not alone.

A few days ago I talked with a friend who is 'connected' with this sort of thing. She offered advice on how to deal with this 'thing' that is hovering around. Looking for sage to burn and thinking seriously of ringing the perimeters of the house with salt. Anyone else have experiences like this?

In other news:
Return of the Daredevil (a sequel to Return to Delight) has been contracted by Ellora's Cave. I'm awaiting edits and a release date and a few days ago, I got the cover. I'm sharing it here.


29 comments:

Allie Standifer said...

'There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.'

One these days we'll find an priest or rabbi to check out casa Carlyse. Until then...I don' think the baseball will help. Try Holy Water!

Harlie Williams said...

That is too creepy for me. I'd be scared shitless and I'm not into the dramatics unless its a bug and all bets are off!

Are yall the original owners of the house? Just saying because maybe someone didn't want to leave. I love ghost stores and such but not in my house.

Good luck...

Regina Carlysle said...

The thing poked Avery in the back a few nights ago. We've been told this ghost is a "young man'. He seems pretty attached to her and it has me worried. Maybe I should call the Ghost Hunters? LOL. Yes, I'm trying to laugh but it's really pretty scary.

Regina Carlysle said...

No, someone owned the house before us (original owners) but they were elderly. This is something 'young'. Since she had these experiences away at school, I have to think this is attached to her somehow.

Harlie Williams said...

Is he a "friendly" ghost? Just asking. That would totally freak me out...

Tess MacKall said...

The entity is definitely one that Avery brought home with her. I think I'd do something about it while she is at home with you. She doesn't want to go back to school and deal with all of that alone. And it will follow her back to school. Not trying to scare you, but what if things escalate and she's all alone?

And I sure as hell don't know what to tell you to do or how to go about finding someone to help you either. All my experiences with spirits--so far---have been welcome.

This one doesn't sound dangerous, however it's still an entity you know nothing about.

Anonymous said...

Holy shitcakes!! That's some kinda freaky! Not that I'm a "spiritual" thumper or anything, but I truly believe ghosts, spirits and such are real. Whatever it is that has attached itself to Avery doesn seem harmless, but none the less, a lil spooky. Not that I have a recommendation or know anyone in Texas, but I would surely check into a legitimate "reader" for Avery to pay a visit to. I'm being 100% serious, too. Spirit, reincarnation, superstition, all of it--Lots of people laugh and joke about it. Not me, unless someone's looking at me like I'm a freak! You're not giving me the skank eye right now, are you, Regina?! LOL!!!

Congrats on your upcoming release!! Super excited to read this one!! :0)))

Elece

anny cook said...

For several years my oldest granddaughter would say she saw something scary on the ceiling. Usually at night. You know how you ignore little kids who don't want to sleep at night...

Finally, I did an elaborate calligraphy cross for her with a Bible verse about God protecting her. Her mom put it on the wall in her bedroom.

And whatever it was went away.

Drea Riley said...

may not be just your home but your daughter...grr sounds like that dumb movie, but yeah. I've long known that "somethings" like to talk to me. Do your research and ward yourselves. The more open or accepting you are of communication the more they want to talk. Strong faith and minds will ease the journey. and yes my love, "there are more things in heaven and earth, horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy" wishing you guys the best and adding and extra prayer for you tonight.

Eileen said...

Wow that creeped me out reading your post! I can't imagine what I would do if I was in your shoes. I probably would have done the same thing and said enough is enough! My daughter's dog tends to bark at nothing when she is with us in our house and my husband likes to spook me and says she is barking at my father-in-law's ghost! Thanks for nothing. Hope things get better for you.

Tea Trelawny said...

Very spooky, Regina. I would definitely call in an expert before your daughter goes back to school. There are plenty of paranormal investigators around that I'm sure would love to help you out.

Keep us informed!
Tea

Regina Carlysle said...

Harley and Tess, no, I don't think he's friendly. He has attached himself to her and is scaring her. That in itself makes me think it's bad and not good. I'm investigating how to get rid of this. The other night we sat together on the couch, just watching tv and talking and between our heads we heard a loud CLICK. You could almost feel the energy of it. Really freaked me out.

Regina Carlysle said...

No skank-eye from me on this Elece. I'm a believer too. My sister knows a reader or two in Orlando and we're going to find out what we can while we're there. We're already getting some advice about what to do to get rid of it. I just don't want her going back to school and dealing with this alone.

Regina Carlysle said...

I need one of those crosses, Anny.

Regina Carlysle said...

Thanks Drea. I DO believe it is attached to Avery and followed her from Lubbock to home. That's more scary, to me, than a house haunting.

Anonymous said...

Reg,

I really haven't talked about it, because it freaked me out so bad, but I had a terrifying experience several months ago, right after my sister died.

I still don't quite know what it was. A friend we have in common gave me some great advice, though. She sent me a peice of Jade from New Zealand that I wear all the time, and I hung a famimly cross above my bed on my wall. Knocking on wood here, but nothing has happened since.

We watch the same shows, and I think you're taking the right steps here.

Now, you know I love to be scared, love scary movies and everything ghost-related, until this thing happened to me! It suddenly gets very real and very scary.

I have to agree that maybe something 'attached' itself to Avery somehow.

Stand up to it, just as you have, and be a unit. You two are such amazing ladies. Just hang in there and I think it's great that you're reaching out. Advice and support were what carried me through my 'scary' experience.

Good luck, hon. To you both.

Regina Carlysle said...

Thank you, Eileen. I actually believe animals pick up on stuff. We will definitely keep investigating and see what we can do to get rid of him.

Regina Carlysle said...

I WILL for sure, Tea.

Regina Carlysle said...

Thanks Taylor. Honey I'm so sorry you had such a scary experience. This thing needs to go! The sooner the better. She doesn't seem as alarmed as I am and I believe she SHOULD be.

Anonymous said...

That was family cross, and I meant a crucifix, I had since my marriage to my ex-husband. Sorry about the typo.

:}

Anonymous said...

Ah, honey, I'm so glad. She's such a tough young lady!

Being strong really helps with this kind of thing. Keeping a calm head and all that.

And thanks, hon. That's just a scary feeling and when those kind of things happen, all the sudden it's not all about the romance of it all, it's about the crap-your pants realism.

Good luck to you both.

Hugs!

Regina Carlysle said...

We have a crucifix. I think I'll hang it in her room. Maybe it will work.

Jennifer Mathis said...

Had to throw in my tale so here I go . I never believed in ghost til ( yeah you knew I had to add that in ) About 2 years ago my curtain in the house started getting ripped down. At first I thought it was my kids doing it ( they are young and I just figured that they were playing hide a seek and pulled hard ) It was only one curtain ever few days so anyway few weeks later my kids went off to grandmas on vacation and I seen the opprtunity to improve how firmly they were attached to the wall. After spending all day reinforcing them I could yank like hell on them and they were still up . Satified over a job well done I went to bed and slept like a baby . The next morning a friend drops by to wake me up cause as he was driving by he noticed ... dumdumdum every curtain in my house was down and he wanted to know if I was moving and hadnt told him. Yup even the curtains in my bedroom ( inch thick hanging bars broken) were scattered about the room and I was the only one home that night. I was pissed so I hung them all up again only to have them torned down in the night literally my curtains were ripped up. Freaked out a bit I learn to live with just miniblinds for the next few weeks til my mom could repair my curtains and make new ones for the ones she couldnt save . I rehung the curtains in all but one window and now I just notice them open when they shouldnt be but I have learned to live with it.
Sorry so long

Regina Carlysle said...

Jennifer, this is spooky as HELL. Does he/she/it only mess with the curtains? Such a strange thing for a ghost to fixate on, isn't it?

Dragon Lady said...

Regina, we are dealing with something similar now. With Zarah! This THING first manifested about 5 years ago. I saw it, felt it, as it tried to come up my front stairs. We have a split level home. I was sitting directly across from the stairs. I did a Gandalf thing and stood at the stairs, arms crossed PISSED off, and told it, it was NOT allowed in my home. It went outside for a long time, but found it's way to Zarah's bathroom. It has been sucking energy from her for a while. With her being pregnant now, it is stepping up and is now acting even angrier because fiance is moved in. Thankfully, we have a benevolent spirit here. The wife of the NA chief we have seen out back. She stands as I did, preventing it from getting closer, but it is getting angrier. We just got some loose white sage to smudge with, as well as sea salt to rim with. We ended up yesterday at a metaphysical store here in town, and we bought the sage and an orange candle to burn. The orange candle is for Hecate, as she will kick it's ASS. A white candle can be used as well, like a vanilla votive in a holder. White is always purity. Lavender will help, as well. Bergamot was another suggested scent.

First and foremost, when you are telling it to get the hell out, be ANGRY at it, and strong in your conviction that it HAS to go and LEAVE Avery alone!!! Will and intent are half the battle.

Btw, smudge each room. EVERY room! We got the loose sage, to smudge in a morter. Josh, the fiance, is also crushing some of the sage leaves with the sea salt to use as a salt line. You might want a smudger of wrapped sage, using a paua shell to put it out after. Get a feather to (I hate this word, but it fits) waft the smoke. You can rest the sage in the shell and just use the feather for the smoke. Also, make sure you smudge Avery as well!! AND the things she brought back from school.

Good luck!! You might want to contact Steph, too.

Regina Carlysle said...

This is scary as freakin' hell. I'm sooooo sorry you are going through this. This pregnancy should be a happy time and not something that is scary. I need to figure out where to get the sage and how to do all this stuff. I'm so clueless. Right now, she isn't seeing the danger. But I sure do.

Dragon Lady said...

Give me a bit of time. I will see what I can do on my end.

*hugs* Your not alone, hun!!!

Mia Watts said...

Hang in there, Reggie. I understand your daughter wanting to "figure it out" but it's soooo not a good idea.

Dragon Lady said...

I wasn't able to gather all I needed to in time, so....as soon as possible tomorrow, I am hitting the post office. You shall have a care package by next week. Smudge sticks, plate, feather, candle.... ;) White candle. Purity. No specifically named deity.

Stacy